Performance, Audition, Audition, New Job, Interview, Audition

Attended Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition and while I didn't win I took some great classes, saw the cutest little 10 year old belly dancer (she was amazing), met lots of beautiful belly dancers, and got to perform!

Last week I auditioned for a sort of reality TV show about Burlesque dancers. As soon as I got there I was pulled in to learn about four 8's of choreography and we were told we would have at least a minute or two to free-style afterward. "Show us what you got!" They said. "Show us your flexibility, special talents, leaps, turns, anything!" And I was #45 so I had a while to work on what I would do impress them with. Now, when we went into the taping room there was about 10 of us and I was last to go. They played the same music we had been practicing for and one at a time we "showed them what we got". I watched each of the girls put forth valiant effort in remembering the steps then doing their own thing. There wasn't any of them that could finish the routine, and I don't blame them, it was nerve racking! However, for what ever reason (maybe because I was last and had time to calm down in front of the bright lights) I remembered every step! And as I came to the end few counts feeling proud of myself and getting ready to move on to my own stuff...they shut of the music. And I thought "cutting me off is either a good thing, or a bad thing". Guess it was a bad thing. They only had one girl from our group to call backs, and while she was a bit awkward with the movements and didn't remember all the steps she did some mad tricks with a hoola-hoop.

Then I had an audition at a big Mexican restaurant called Pink Taco. They were looking for variety acts and had me come in as a belly dancer. While it was a waste of a few hours because at the end they said "oh, our owner came in and said he's going to for-go the circus act thing but maybe when we open our new place on Sunset strip. We'll call you!", I had fun performing, got some free drinks, and an amazing burrito. Hopefully they will call for their new place.

Then last Saturday I had my first night as a shot girl. They sent me to a club in Long Beach and I sold shots to the patrons. It was fun, I made good money, got to dance to the 80's cover band that rocked, and again got some free shots. I'll be working as a shot girl again for St. Patty's day, and the Friday and Saturday after.

Yesterday I went with my friend Jackie, also a dancer, to an open interview for a new place called Beacher's Madhouse at the Roosevelt Hotel. We walked in and instantly new we HAD to work there. It's a huge variety show with every kind of, in their words, "freak". In addition to bartenders, servers etc, the ad called for burlesque and go-go dancers who had "bar-tending or serving capabilities". We walked in and they were on #4 and we were #49 and #50. It took almost two hours and when they called us up they said "oh thats nice but there is an audition on Thursday. You should contact this other guy and make an appointment because we don't handle that part of things." Oh great. So, again, unknowingly waisted some time but we had auditions set up for the day after tomorrow.
http://www.beachersmadhouse.com/

In other news, Erik was hired for a show called "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant". A sort of reality/documentary show where women, for whatever reason, come in and talk about how they didn't know they were pregnant. But they use actors to portray key family members when they talk about "and then this happened". So, Erik was a boyfriend of the women who didn't know she was pregnant. A show we've never watched before, seems pretty silly, BUT Erik got PAID acting TV work! Holla! http://health.discovery.com/tv/i-didnt-know-i-was-pregnant/

A Rare Commodity

                                                  Bulgar. Human's earliest recorded use of wheat.

                                                  Possibly unobtainable in Koreatown, Los Angeles. That or I've gone crazy and am making up random foods.

The recipe for meatloaf I'm making tonight called for it. So, Erik and I head  to our neighborhood Vons (Safeway for those of you in the Northwest) and search up and down various isles to no avail. Finally, I find a Vons worker, a Mexican looking female with a hairnet. "What?" She exclaims. I repeat myself.
 "What is it?"
"Well," I explain "it's a grain. A wheat." And after hesitating she replies "let me find someone else". Erik and I wait.

Another worker comes over to us, this time a large male also Mexican looking. "What are you looking for?"
"Bulgar."
"Bugger?!"
"No...BULGAR"
"What is it?"
"A grain"
"Let me find someone better for this." He says.

We wait.

Another guy comes over and says "what are you looking for?"
"Bulgar."
"Burger?"
"No..BULGAR."
"What is it?"
"A grain!" (I'm getting a little tired of repeating myself)
"I dunno.." He says and wanders off.

The original guy comes over.
"...uh...would it be in a can?"
"Shouldn't be. Probably a container like a bag or box."

So we follow him up and down some appropriate isles...to no avail.

Erik finally looks up on his phone that Cous Cous is sometimes used in place of bulgar so...we're giving that a try...

Obsessing of Belly Dancing

Here it is. What has inspired this constant obsessing. Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in February. And, quite frankly, I don't even know if it will be good. Seems like it will...but I don't know. And another thing, I'm not big on dance competitions. However, this one has workshops and a big cash prize.

And what exactly have I been obsessing over? Costumes, technique, costumes,the workshops, costumes and the competition. Yeah, a lot about the costumes. I keep having this re-occurring, unrealistic worry, like a child going into Jr. High for the first time, that everyone will laugh at my costume for whatever reason. Oh, and in this worry, they don't laugh right to my face but rather behind my back secretively like "oooh...what's that she's wearing? How horrid!" Or that others will have the same costume if I buy it online, or that it won't be good enough if I make it myself. Sheesh.

The problem is I have never been to anything like this for Belly Dance before. Modern dance? Sure...but not Belly. Around so many Belly Dancers...and very possibly many excellent ones. What is considered a good costume? What's paying too much? Is this move acceptable? Do I need more than one costume? What do we wear to classes? Oh..THIS is Tribal and THIS is Egyptian? What if I look TOO different? Or worse TOO the same! Okay, well now that's out, don't worry it will not keep me from going.

With that aside, I am equally as excited! To talk and meet with so many Belly Dancers! Have classes, compare costumes, make friends, learn more technique! SO freaking excited! I've spent hours on YouTube watching videos of both good and bad dancers. And that is to say what I consider good and bad. And searched for hours all over the web looking at costumes and accessories, and there is still so much to look at!

AND I've been searching all over LA for different classes to take. Again, there are SO many!

So, I finally decided to use what I have, get a little extra, and make the costume(s) myself! I perused what I have, decided what I needed and searched the web for a fabric and craft store. JO-ANN'S? Really? MICHAELS? Yuck! And I told the computer "Come on! I live in FREAKING LA! Find something INTERESTING like I know there has to be tons of here!" Ask and ye shall receive. I found the International Silks and Woolens. To ANYONE who does sewing, costuming, furniture, or even just enjoys fabrics..RUN! Don't walk. 'Cus it was cool...way way WAY cool. http://www.internationalsilks.com/International_Silks_and_Woolens/Home.html

Update's and probably pictures will come of the costume(s) in question. Wish me luck!

Erik's Parents Visit

In one of the malls here in LA, apparently chain-mail is in style. Who knew!?!

While Lorri and Ron, Erik's parents, visited two weeks ago, we decided to drive Hollywood's famous Mulholland Drive and this picture was taken off a little scenic view pull-off spot. People drive one of two ways along this very small and curvy drive. Either WAY fast (because they're locals) or WAY slow (because they're tourists). You can see the Hollywood Freeway, downtown buildings and, of course, the smog!



Again, while Lorri and Ron were visiting, we decided to have some drinks at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. Drinks were EXPENSIVE, even for Hollywood. This is, of course, the lobby. I should have taken a picture of the bathroom as well...seriously...it was huge and each of the stalls were their own rooms with doors to the ceiling and to the floor. Posh!

 There are murals of famous celebrities, and movie characters, all over Hollywood, of course. But the quality differs greatly between them.

 This is Venice Beach, the beach in Santa Monica that is famous for muscle men working out. There is a workout facility that they go to, outdoors of course so people walking by can watch. Because it wasn't prime season we only saw one elderly man in tiny shorts working out, though he was quite fit. The beach was beautiful and warm even in November!!

A Lesson Learned

I took headshots yesterday!  Now all that's left is to pick about 5 that are the BEST of the best and they'll get re-touched. Nothing major, just getting rid of random hairs, cropping it, and in some cases putting a bit more color in from a washed out look. Check out Facebook so see some of the ones I've singled out!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=234449&id=723512543&fbid=444367187543

We took just over 400! It was a long but pretty fun 2 1/2 hours. We had scheduled that Erik was going to take his headshots at the same time. However...he went to get a haircut that morning (just a trim to clean up his curls a bit) and...it didn't turn out well. On the main street, about 2 blocks away, we saw a barber shop that Erik thought would be good since he could just drop in there in the morning for a quick cut. I didn't go with him but he said the lady was a bit Mexican and a bit Korean. So...not much English was spoken but she pulled his locks and showed how much she was going to cut. He looked at it and the amount was what he wanted so he wasn't too worried. THEN with the first "snip, snip" he was left with only about an inch (FAR less than the gorgeous hair before) and from that point on there was nothing he could do. Furious, he called me and asked me to cancel the appointment for headshots. However, the makeup artist, who was only going to be there for me, was already on her way. So...Erik will get his headshots later...once the hair grows back out from this buzz-cut/military look a bit. And a big ol' lesson was learned: Get hair cut from people who speak the same language as you. AND pay more than $10. :)

So, I have the Belly dance teaching job. HOWEVER, they don't really want a technical Belly dance class. The women who are taking it are upper-class, mostly housewives, who are looking to get a work out without pumping iron at the gym or actually running. So, the owners of the studio explained to me that they don't want to really be Belly dancers, but just have fun and work out. Now, I am conflicted because I feel like I need to put more "cardio" in, so they get a good sweat going but what do I call it since its just like a Belly dance inspired workout? I'm not sure and it frustrates me because I feel like I also have to re-design the whole class set-up. *shrugs*

Finally, I've had 3 whole 5:30am outdoor personal training workouts and I'm SO sore! I'm proud of myself for not giving up and excited to be at my best physical ability! What a jock I am.

Where Do I Start?

So, I've been an extra on two shows so far through Central Casting. It's kind of annoying because you have to call in to a number which has a bunch of recordings on it (separate numbers for women and men), and you have to listen to the recording to see if it describes you, like,

 "Hello! We're looking for non-union ladies between the ages of 25-40, all ethnicities, who are brunette and have professional business attire for CSI-New York. If this is you please call..."

And many variations within that. Sometimes it's 18 to look younger, or asking for people who have "bookable" cars (meaning 2007 or newer and not red, black, or white), or for people who have real ethnic wear from India or the Middle East. Or sometimes they want "little people who can ice skate (didn't make that one up), or saxophone players, or experienced cheerleaders.  And then, if you fit the description, you call the number they ask you to and, Erik and I have figured out, most of the time the lines are BUSY so you call and call and call to try to talk to someone (or leave your info on their voice-mail). Now, the next thing we have to look at is maybe being AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) so we can become SAG (Screen Actors Guild). They're paid better and get more work!

On Sunday I met with a guy named Dejon "Danger" Miller, who is a personal fitness (and, he says, life) trainer. For his intense work out program he picks a few girls who he can "transform" (like real before and after pictures kind of a thing) to basically be the image of his business. He said he doesn't believe in just finding already fit women to do that because it's cheating (and it is, really). So, along with some other girls he is willing to train me three times a week and in return I help him once a week do some promotional things. Again, I'm not entirely sure what I'm getting into here but today I went and trained with him at 8:30am. It was...horrible. I mean, at least physically. It was the most intense workout I've definitely ever had and I consider myself pretty physically fit. My body was shaking all over and he would just push for more! I left feeling unsure if I wanted, or even could continue this. I talked with Erik and though my body is already sore and I know tomorrow at 5:30am is going to be worse in so many ways, Erik says I should try to stick with it. And I agree, for me and because, quite frankly, I'm not a quitter.

Yesterday I had my first rehearsal with ACFCLA, and the performance we're doing at the end of November is all about helping the world and community. Dances about no hate, and littering, and proud women stuff. So, its cool. Again, I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into. But through the studio I get to take free classes plus perform. And the woman who owns the studio and the company is also a photographer of dance and her work was in the magazine Dance Track for the Fall/Winter. Which is cool. It is interesting to be the newest in a place of dance again. It's been a while and luckily all these girls were really nice but being the new one was something I haven't experienced in a long time.

Oh man, I just remembered that intense workout for 5:30am again. *sigh*

1st Blog

Not only is this my first blog post but it is the first blog I've ever started. We'll see how this goes.

So, Erik and I have been in Los Angeles for just over a month. It sounds longer than it feels. We are accompanied by my fat but adorable cat Booka, whom I've had for all of his life, about 13 years.

We moved here to pursue our careers; his in Theatre/Film and mine in Dance. However, I won't stop at dance and, in fact, have always loved acting and modeling and therefore I'm looking into those things as well.

Currently, I have a non-career job (ie. to pay the bills but is not performance or dance related) working with a valet company called: Valet of the Dolls. It is a mostly female company, owned and operated by a woman, Gillian. http://valetofthedolls.com/

On top of that, Erik and I are both registered with Central Casting, the largest extra's casting company here in LA. http://www.centralcasting.org/ Today is my second day in a row being an extra. Yesterday was for the NBC show Extras hosted by Mario Lopez, ya know AC Slater from Saved By The Bell. Its a show that just dish's on celebrity gossip (not my cup of tea but I still got paid). It was also the anniversary of Back To The Future (the 80's movie with Michael J. Fox) and so they had a replica of the Delorean they used.

Today will be for a TV show called Friends With Benefits, a romantic sitcom I've never watched. We'll see.

Additionally, I am working on teaching Belly dance for a new studio up in Glendale and being in a dance company called ACFCLA http://www.acfcla.org but haven't had any rehearsals quite yet.

That's all for now but there will be SO much to add.